Chapter 17: The First Invitations
Silence slowly returned to the Moonlit Tea Room.
The laughter from moments ago faded.
Steam still rose from porcelain teacups.
Yet the atmosphere had changed.
It had become... serious.
Fenrir noticed it immediately.
Every pair of eyes in the room was on him.
Lord Adrian.
Lady Yuna.
The Ironforge brothers.
Elena.
Kael.
Selene.
Raphael.
Even Aetherion.
"...Why is everyone staring at me again?"
No one answered.
Sebastian let out a sigh.
"You really are hopelessly oblivious."
"That's not helping."
Aetherion chuckled softly and set down his teacup.
"Now that introductions are finished, perhaps our guests would like to explain why they came."
His silver eyes moved toward the vampire.
"Lord Adrian?"
Adrian smiled.
His crimson eyes settled on Fenrir.
"The Night Court wishes to establish a friendship with the Young Sovereign."
Fenrir blinked.
"...A friendship?"
Adrian nodded.
"Should you ever require assistance, information, or even a place to stay, the doors of the Night Court will always remain open to you."
"...Thank you."
A faint smile appeared on Adrian's face.
Suddenly—
Yuna shot to her feet.
"The Moon Fox Clan wants to be friends too!"
Her nine tails wagged happily.
"And you absolutely have to visit our homeland someday!"
Fenrir looked surprised.
"Uh... alright?"
She looked delighted.
The three dwarves immediately stood.
"The Ironforge Clan wishes to arm the Young Sovereign!"
"We craft the finest swords!"
"The finest armor!"
"And the finest artifacts!"
Fenrir looked confused.
"I appreciate the offer, but... I don't exactly have money right now."
Silence.
The three dwarves looked horrified.
"Money?!"
"You think we'd charge you?!"
"It would be our honor!"
"...Oh."
A few people laughed.
Then Kael spoke.
The werewolf crossed his arms.
"The Northern Tribes only came to verify the rumors."
"And?"
Kael stared at him for several seconds.
"They're true."
"...I still don't know what that means."
Kael grinned.
"Neither do I."
Fenrir's eye twitched.
A smile touched Selene's lips.
"The Witch Council has no particular agenda."
She folded her hands together.
"We simply wished to see you for ourselves."
"Why?"
Her green eyes sparkled.
"Because you're fascinating."
That sentence again.
Why did everyone keep saying that?
Then everyone's attention shifted toward Elena.
The dragon woman remained silent for several moments.
Then she spoke.
"The Dragon Clan has no intention of interfering in your life."
Fenrir visibly relaxed.
"That's good."
Elena's lips curved slightly.
"However..."
He immediately became nervous again.
"We will keep an eye on you."
"...Why?"
Her golden eyes gleamed.
"Interesting things seem to happen around you."
Fenrir sighed.
"I don't feel like that's my fault."
"Probably not."
Soft laughter spread through the room.
Then—
Raphael slowly rose to his feet.
The room became quiet.
Even Adrian and Elena looked toward him.
The angel placed a hand over his chest.
"The Heavenly Dominion also wishes to maintain friendly relations with the Young Sovereign."
Fenrir blinked.
"Even the angels?"
Raphael smiled gently.
"The Heavenly Father teaches us that wisdom begins with understanding."
His blue eyes softened.
"If we are to judge a man, we must first know him."
Something in Fenrir's chest eased.
Then Raphael smiled again.
"And speaking personally..."
He paused.
"I find you interesting."
Fenrir let out a long sigh.
"You too?"
A small laugh escaped Raphael.
"I've never met a God Devourer before."
"...Fair enough."
Silence returned.
Then Aetherion spoke.
"You seem confused."
"Is it that obvious?"
"Painfully."
Several people laughed.
The old man's expression became serious.
"Fenrir."
"Yes?"
"What do all the people in this room have in common?"
Fenrir looked around.
A vampire.
A fox spirit.
Three dwarves.
A dragon.
A werewolf.
A witch.
An angel.
He shook his head.
"No idea."
Aetherion smiled.
"They are all representatives of powerful factions."
Silence.
Fenrir blinked.
"Oh."
A pause.
Then—
"Oh."
Another pause.
Then—
"Wait."
He slowly looked around the room.
Everyone was staring back at him.
"...These people are important?"
Sebastian pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Extremely."
Fenrir suddenly looked horrified.
"Why?!"
Silence filled the room.
Then Aetherion answered softly.
"Because you are."
The room became quiet.
"The Last God Devourer."
"The Young Sovereign."
"A being who may change the course of history."
His silver eyes met Fenrir's.
"Every powerful faction in the hidden world wishes to know only one thing."
"What?"
Aetherion's expression became unreadable.
"Will you become their ally..."
He paused.
"...or their enemy?"
Complete silence.
For the first time that evening...
Fenrir understood.
This wasn't curiosity.
This wasn't coincidence.
His existence truly mattered.
To them.
To the hidden world.
To history itself.
A strange feeling settled in his chest.
Heavy.
Almost unreal.
Fenrir looked around the room once more.
A vampire.
A dragon.
An angel.
A witch.
A werewolf.
A fox spirit.
Master smiths.
Any one of them could probably kill him.
Yet all of them were treating him with respect.
The thought felt unreal.
"...Why me?"
The question escaped before he realized it.
Silence followed.
Then Aetherion answered.
"Because history has started moving again."
"And you happen to be standing at its center."
The room fell silent.
Aetherion's voice softened.
"But tonight isn't about politics."
He smiled.
"Tonight is simply an opportunity for everyone to meet the young man who has suddenly become important to history."
Silence lingered.
Then—
Yuna raised her hand.
"So!"
Everyone looked at her.
"What do you like?"
Fenrir blinked.
"What?"
"Your hobbies!"
The question completely caught him off guard.
"I..."
He thought for a moment.
"I like reading."
Silence.
Yuna blinked.
"Books?"
"Yes."
Kael frowned.
"That's boring."
"I feel like I should be offended."
Adrian laughed softly.
And just like that...
The atmosphere relaxed.
Tea was poured.
Stories were exchanged.
The room slowly became less like a gathering of powerful figures...
And more like a group of acquaintances simply enjoying each other's company.
For the first time since entering the hidden world...
Fenrir almost felt normal again.